W&J College Hangs On 33-28 Over Waynesburg University
Tagged under: Gameday Hub, Pennsylvania Colleges, pfn
Brett Gombita | November 11, 2023
On Saturday afternoon, the Washington and Jefferson Presidents defeated the Waynesburg Yellow Jackets by a score of 33-28. In the three matchups prior, W&J had outscored Waynesburg 177-0, but Waynesburg was able to stay in this game until the end.
Both teams turned the ball over on their very first play from scrimmage. W&J received the opening kickoff and fumbled on their first snap, but they then got the ball back off of an interception.
Zach Cernuto scored the first touchdown of the game to put W&J up 7-0.
Cernuto scored again to make it 14-0 before Zayne Cawley put Waynesburg on the board with a rushing touchdown to make it 14-7.
W&J then went on to score three unanswered touchdowns before the half. Two of these were scored by John Peduzzi. The score at halftime was 33-7 W&J, as a result of a missed extra point and an unsuccessful two point conversion from the Presidents.
The second half was all Waynesburg, as they outscored W&J 21-0 in the third and fourth quarters.
Zayne Cawley’s second touchdown of the day started the comeback. Then, the Yellow Jackets blocked a W&J punt and quarterback Samuel Barber took it into the endzone on the first play of the possession.
Barber’s touchdown made it just a 12 point game.
A sack from Chase Nicomatti on a W&J 4th down try gave Waynesburg the ball back, trailing 33-21. Waynesburg marched down the field, but they were stopped inside the five by the W&J defense.
However, Waynesburg forced a punt and got the ball back with enough time left to pull off the upset. On this drive, Samuel Barber took a hard hit and had to be replaced for one play by Thomas Burke III.
Barber found himself back in the game, throwing a dart to wide receiver Dakota Romantino to make it just a five point game with one minute remaining.
DAKOTA ROMANTINO KEEPS WAYNESBURG’S HOPES ALIVE!!
— Brett Gombita 🏴☠️ (@brett_gombita) November 11, 2023
1 MINUTE REMAINING W&J LEADS WAYNESBURG 33-28@PaFootballNews pic.twitter.com/sN4xgWLJWR
Waynesburg’s onside kick attempt was unsuccessful, and the chance at a potential upset was gone.
W&J secured the 33-28 victory, putting them at an 8-2 record to finish the regular season. With the loss, Waynesburg finishes the regular season at 2-8.
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